The EC is reported over TVs to say that they will investigate the alleged inducement by 2 PKR leaders to cause an Independent candidate to drop out of the Penanti by-election. The EC reportedly said that they will accept the 3 hour CD distributed by Aminah bin Abdullah as an evidence to start their investigation. The CD is now doing the round in Penanti -but there are disagreements as to whether the conversation recorded provide any definitive inducement to the candidate and also whether the 2 acted with any authorisation from the party.

This is the first time EC said it will investigate inducement for causing candidates to drop out-though there are numerous dropping outs of candidates in the past especially in Sabah and Sarawak, where many ruling party candidates enjoyed walk-overs during elections.

Update: As much as the case sound like highly selective prosecution it is good that EC look into developing an investigation arm to prohibit inducement for challengers to drop out-which inevitably will target the East Malaysian cases. From the perspective of free election no one should be induced to drop out of an election race. In this case no one was stopped from becoming a candidate-so the case, if proven, is a lesser charge of attempt at inducement.

Latest: Aminah has confirmed that she had lodged a complaint to SPRM, following report to SPR -thus sealing her lips to speak out on the allegations pending investigation by SPRM. This lip-sealing rules of SPRM is controversial in itself-among other SPRM rules such as the SPRM is not obligated to keep complainant updated on investigation etc. The implicated PKR leaders, Cheah Kah Peng and Peter Lim, has been called in by SPRM for assisting the investigation. Another unknown person has also been summoned to give statement, as reported by media.

On the other hand PKR has threatened legal action against Aminah for making the `baseless’ allegation.